Conveyorized storage racks



March 26, 1957 M. DE GRAAF ET AL 2,786,578

CONVEYORIZED STORAGE RACKS Filed Nov. 5, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS= H6: 9 ?5 2e MAURKIE DE GRAAF' Ed 24 CARL J. FALCON H610 ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 M. DE GRAAF ETAL 2,786,578

CONVEYORIZED STORAGE RACKS Filed Nov. 3, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG. 6 'lNVENTORS 24 MAURICE DE GRAAF I2 l5 1 CARL I J.- FALCON BY:

HG. 7 l4 ATTORNEY March 1957 M. DE GRAAF ETAL 2,786,578

CONVEYORIZED STORAGE RACKS Filed Nov. 3,- 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS= MAURICE DE GRAAF CARL J. FALCON T 'FBRNEY CQNVEYORIZED STORAGE RACKS Maurice De Grant and Carl J. Falcon, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to The Rapids-Standard Company, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 3, 1954, Serial No. 466,532

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relates to storage racks and more particularly to a conveyorized storage rack in which the materials contained in boxes or on pallets are placed for travel on tracks.

Among the primary objects of this invention is to provide a storage rack which is sturdy, capable of rapid assembly and rapid erection. It is intended that .the rack be so designed that it may be entirely fabricated from a few simple shapes, thereby reducing both the material cost and the die cost necessary for its production.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a storage rack adapted to shipment as a flat unit, thus substantially reducing freight costs because of the compact manner in which the units may be loaded in a transport.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide storage racks which are adaptable in design. Merely by .substituting cross members of different length the unit may be adapted for pallets or boxes of different widths. By this simple means, the racks may be mass produced, eliminating the high cost attendant the production of custom built units.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a storage rack which, at the discharge end, has positive delivery of the boxes or pallets so that as one is removed the next one will immediately move into place ready for removal. So far as the vertical spacing between the rails is concerned, it is intended that the rack be adjustable at any time without modification of its parts.

These and other objects and purposes of this invention will be immediately seen by those acquainted with the design and manufacture of storage rack equipment upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation view of a storage rack constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the storage rack appearing in Fig. 1.

.Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation View taken along the plane IVIV of Fig. 3, omitting the vertical standard.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevation View taken along the plane VV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of the attachment means of the side rails to the vertical standards of the storage rack.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane Vii- VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of the discharge end of the rails of the storage rack Fig. 9 is a side elevation View of a nut used for the assembly of the storage rack.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the nut shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevation view of a modified construction for this invention taken along the same plane as Fig. 3. 1

nited States Patent 0 "ice Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation view taken along the plane XIIX1I of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of a further modified construction for this invention taken along the same plane as Figs. 3 and 11.

In executing the objects and purposes of this invention, I have provided a storage rack consisting of two side panels held together by rigid cross braces. Between the side panels and resting on and secured to the cross braces are pairs of parallel rails. The pairs of rails are arranged in a vertical tier, one above the other. Each of the rails is equipped with a plurality of freely rotatable conveyor .wheels designed to support boxes, cartons or any other storage article containers. The rail pairs slope downwardly toward the discharge end of the rack. The downward inclination of the rails induces the packages to move toward the discharge end under the force of gravity. Thus, as one is removed, those remaining on the rails will move toward the discharge end to occupy the space vacated by the removal of the first one.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates an assembled storage rack having side members 11 and 11a. Each of the side members consists of a pair of vertical end standards 12 held together by a plurality of tie bars 13. The tie bars are preferably honzontal and at each end have a pair of anchor members 14 (Figs. 6 and 7). The anchor members 14 are L- shaped, each having one leg inserted in the tie bar 13 and secured thereto by suitable means such as welding. The other leg of the anchor member projects vertically from the end of the tie bar and has a hole for the attachmentbolt 15.

The end standards 12 and the tie bars 13 together wtih the rails 16 are of identical cross-sectional shape and size. Each is a channel section of generally U-shape, having a pair of parallel sides 17 connected by a web 18 (Fig. 3). At the open end of the channel, the free ends of the sides 17 are turned inwardly and backwardly upon themselves to form a pair of inwardly extending flanges 19. The flanges are spaced from the sides 17 and from each other, thus providing a central slot 20 forming the open face of the channel.

The open slots 20 of the vertical end standards 12 are turned to face each other. The open slot 20 of the tie bars 13 is turned inwardly of the rack; To secure the tie bars 13. to the end standards 12, nuts 24 (Figs. 9 and 10) are inserted in the end standards 12 (Fig. 7). The nuts 24 are of rectangular outline having a central threaded opening 25 and a narrow slot 26 adjacent and parallel to each of their ends. The bottom of these slots is serrated for improved gripping of the ends of the flanges 19. The width of the nut is such that it may be inserted through the slot 20 and then rotated to seat the ends of the flanges 19 in the slots 26. When the bolts 15 are tightened, the nuts are clamped tightly about the ends of the flanges 19 and by reason of the serrations are positively held against sliding longitudinally of the member to which they are secured. Since these nuts maybe attached at any point along the end standards, it is seen that the spacing between the tie bars 13 may be quickly and easily adjusted.

The side members 11 and 11a are identical in construction and are tied together by cross bars 30. The cross bars are located at each end of the rack and extend between the end standards 12.

The cross bars 30 are L-shaped in cross section having a vertical leg 31 and a horizontal leg 32 (Figs. 4 and 5). The horizontal leg projects outwardly of the rack and the vertical leg 31 is secured to the open face of the end standards 12. To permit the vertical leg 31 to be brought against the face of the end standards 12, the horizontal 3 leg 32 is cut away at 33 to provide a clearance opening for the end standards (Fig. 3).

At each end, the cross bars have a punched and bent finger 34 (Figs. 3 and 4). The fingers 34. are designed to enter the slots 2% of the end standards 12 to align the cross bars 39 and properly space the end standards. The. width of the fingers 34 is such that they will conveniently seat in the slot 2% with a minimum of play. The ends of the cross bars 30 adjacent the fingers 34 are apertured for the mounting bolts 35. The mounting bolts 35 engage a nut 24 within the end standards 12, rigidly securing the cross bars 34 to the end standards. The fingers 34 and bolts 35 cooperate to prevent rotation of the cross bars 39 about the point of attachment to the end standards 12.

It will be seen from the construction of the cross bars 36 that they may be mounted in any vertical position along the end standards 12. Thus, the vertical spacing between the cross bars 313 is fully adjustable. This is important to make the rack readily adjustable for articles of different heights.

The cross bars 39 mount and support the rails 16. For the purpose of securing the rails 16, each of the cross bars 3t has a pair of rectangular notches 33 in its vertical flange 31 (Fig. 3). The notches 38 extend the full depth of the flange permitting the rails 16 to rest upon the horizontal flange 32 of the cross bar (Fig. 5). The width of the notches 38 is such that the rails will snugly seat in them. The rails 16 are further secured to the cross bar 30 by means of the bolts 39 extending through the horizontal leg 32 of the cross bar to. engage a nut 24 mounted within rail 16 (Fig. 3).

The cross bars 30, at the loading end of the storage rack 10, are higher than the cross bars at the discharge end of the storage rack. This arrangement gives the rails 16 a downward inclination toward the discharge end. The difference in vertical location of the cross bars at one end with relation to the other is dependent upon the amount of inclination it is desired to give the rails. Normally in a ten-foot rail a height differential of about six inches between the ends is suflicient.

The rails or tracks 16 are longer than the rack and thus project out from each end of the rack. The upper projecting ends 40 provide an easily accessible means for loading the tracks 16 while the projecting ends 41 at the discharge end provide an easily accessible means for unloading the tracks 16.

The channel sections constituting the tracks 16 are inverted with the web 18 forming the top. The web 18 of each track is provided with a plurality of equally spaced, rectangular apertures. A freely rotatable conveyor wheel 43 is mounted in each of these apertures. Each conveyor wheel 43 is secured by a bolt 54 extending through the rail. Tightening of the nuts 45 on the bolts 44 will not cause collapse of the tracks 16 since these are supported by suitable spacers 46. Only a small portion of the conveyor wheels 43 projects above the top surfaces of the tracks 16. The amount of the wheels 43 projecting above the track, is only sufficient to assure travel of the boxes, crates or pallets along the tracks with no contact at the top surface of the rails.

At the discharge end of each track 16 is an L-shaped stop 48 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8). The stops 43 have one leg extending into the track and secured thereto by suitable means such as welding. The other leg projects upwardly into the path of travel of the article on the track. It will be recognized that where this storage rack is used in conjunction with a conveyor system for receiving the goods from the discharge end of the conveyor rack, some other type of stop means may be employed. Such stop means may be equipped for manual or automatic release of the articles. If desired, it may be operated by remote control.

Modifications Figs. ll, 12 and 13 illustrate modifications of this storage rack. In the modification illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the end standards 12 remain the same. The cross braces 50, however, are inclined toward one of the end standards. This requires a different mounting for the cross braces. This is accomplished by utilizing an L-shaped clip 5i on each end. The clips. 51 are inclined so they are normal to the cross brace 5%. One leg of the clip bolted to the top of the cross brace 56* by means of the bolt 52. Each of the clips is secured to a standard 12 by a pair of bolts 53 engaging the usual internal nuts 24. This arrangement holds the cross braces rigidly to the end standards and prevents the cross from rotating with respect to the end standards.

A pair of rails 16 are mounted to each cross brace. The rails 16 are identical to the rails 16 illustrated in Fig. 3. These rails are equipped with wheels 43 mounted for free rotation about the bolts 44. The rails 36 are secured to the cross brace 50 by bolts 54 and nuts 24. Since the rails 16 are normal to the cross brace 5%, they form a laterally inclined track for the packages This inclination causes the package to slide laterally of the rails toward the lower side. Lateral movement of the packages 55 is limited by the side guide rail 55. The side guide rail 55 is identical to the supporting rails 16 and like them is equipped with a plurality of freely rotatable convcyor wheels 43 secured by bolts 44. The guide rail 55 is mounted by means of a nut 24 and bolt 56 to the clip 57. The clip is L-shaped but has one leg at such an angle that the central axis of the guide rail 55 is normal to the central axis of the supporting rails 16. The clip 57 is secured to the adjacent end standard by a pair of bolts 58 and engaging nuts 24 mounted internally of the end standard 12.

It will be understood that the track formed by the rails 16 is inclined lengthwise to cause the packages to rave through the storage rack by gravity. In some cases it may be necessary to increase the angle at which the tracks are inclined to overcome the additional friction resulting from the lateral inclination of the track and the use of the side guide rail 55.

By the use of this arrangement, the packages, boxes or other items traveling along the storage tracks are caused to move to one side of the storage rack where each one wil be positively aligned at one point. This is desirable where it is necessary to provide an indexing or releasing means to automaticaly control the release of the article from the storage rack. Such a releasing mechanism will' be indexed to the lower corner 59 of the package.

in Fig. 13, the storage rack is illustrated as modified for handling long, cylindrical articles such as rolls of linoleum, barrels, drum or kegs. In this arrangement, the cross-brace 63 is horizontal and mounts a pair of brackets 64. Each bracket 64 is secured to the crossbrace 63 by means of a bolt 65. Each bracket 64, at its upper end, has an inwardly and downwardly turned leg 66. The legs or flanges 66 are illustrated as inclined at an angle of 45 This angle of inclination may be varied, depending upon the diameter of the article to be transported along the conveyor or for any other reason that would increase the efiicicncy of the storage rack. Secured to each of the flanges 66 and projecting upwardly and inwardly from them, is a rail 16 equipped with the usual freely rotatable conveyor wheels 43. The conveyor wheels are secured by means of a bolt 44. Each rail 16 is secured to its supporting flange 66 by a bolt 67 engaging a nut 24 in the rail.

It is seen from the illustration in Fig. 13 that the cylindrical article 68 rides on the conveyor wheels 43 by centering between them. The conveyor wheels 43, in etfect, form a V -shaped slot for supporting the article. The inclined rails automatically center the article between them. It will be recognized that the track arrangement illustrated in Fig. 13 may also be used for packages of square, triangular or rectangular cross section. The bottom corner of such packages will always be centered between the rails and may thus be used as an indexing device for automatic releasing or counting mechanisms.

While the rack is illustrated as consisting of a single length of conveyor track it will be recognized that large storage racks may consist of several lengths of conveyor track mounted in tandem. In this arrangement, several complete storage racks are placed in tandem relationship. The end standards 12 on the intermediate storage racks are relocated at the ends of the rails 16 and secured to the end standards 12 of the adjacent storage rack by bolting or welding. Only the end units of such a storage rack assembly will have provision for loading or unloadmg.

Not only may numerous units of the storage rack be arranged in tandem but they may be arranged in side by side relationship to provide a bank of storage racks one beside the other. The storage racks so arranged, if desired, may be secured together at the end standards or left as free units since each one is self-contained and selfsupporting.

It will be seen from this description that large storage facilities may be provided, by stringing together as many of the storage racks as are' required using the storage rack 10 as a modular unit.

Operation Preferably the side members 11 and 11a are preassembled and are shipped as panels. The tracks 16 and the cross bars 30 are pre-assembled as flat unit components. In the assembly of the side members 11 and 11a, the vertical spacing between the tie bars 13 is determined by the vertical spacing between the pairs of rails 16 and to some extent by the loading to be imposed upon the rack. Preferably, the tie bars 13 are so arranged that there is one on each side of the tracks 16 spaced a short distance above the tracks. In this arrangement, the tie bars 13 serve the additional function of guiding the boxes or cartons as they move through the storage racks. Although these cartons or boxes will normally track on the rails 16 without side guides, the guides do serve as a safety means, preventing accidental dislodgement of the articles in the event they are struck from the side.

To reduce installation time, the rails 16 and cross bars 39 may be factory assembled. The bolts 39 are preferably lift slightly loose to permit adjustment at the time of installation. The assembled rails and cross bars make a compact, fiat unit suitable for shipment.

To assemble the rack, the customer merely has to secure the cross bars 30 to the end standards 12. If the bolts 39 have been left slightly loose, the cross bars 30 may be quickly adjusted longitudinally of the rails 16. When one of them has been backed enough to permit the nuts 24 and the tabs 34 to be inserted in the slots 20, the cross bar 30 may then be pressed against the end standards 12, the nuts 24 turned into position and the bolts 35 tightened. The bolts 39 can then be tightened.

When all of the cross bars 30 are in place and secured, the entire rack is assembled. The resulting rack is rigid and sturdy, and will sustain a heavy, vertical loading. It is particularly adapted for the storage of small parts. Where a plant or a warehouse has to keep large quantities of small parts, these may be placed in suitable cartons or boxes and a number of the boxes placed on each pair of tracks 16. As the boxes are removed, those remaining on the track will automatically move toward the discharge end. Thus, so long as there are any boxes on the tracks there will always be one ready for easy removal at the discharge end 41 of the rails.

As the supply becomes depleted, the storage rack may be easily restocked by loading additional boxes on the receiving or loading end 40 of the storage rack. These boxes, as loaded, will automatically move down the rail 16 until further movement is limited either by the Stops 48 or by other boxes already on the rails. The rackis so designed that it provides a maximum amount of storage for the space occupied.

At the same time, since the racks are self-discharging, they may be tiered one immediately adjacent the next since it is unnecessary to have access to the sides of the racks. It is only necessary that their receiving and discharge ends be accessible. This, in itself, makes available appreciable additional storage space by eliminating the necessity for numerous side aisles. If the customer has to use boxes of greater height than the rack was originally designed to handle, more vertical space may be provided by removing one or more pairs of the rails 16 and respacing the remaining rails. Thus, it is seen that the rack is fiexible in its use, being adapted to accommodate boxes of only a few inches or of several feet in height.

Both initial installation and subsequent adjustment are easily accomplished since only the most rudimentary of tools are required. Since the rails 16, tie bars 13 and end standards 12 are all formed as lengths of a single rolled shape, the fabrication of the unit is economical. These shapes can be rolled from continuous strip material and merely cut to the desired length. Thus, racks of different heights and lengths may be fabricated with substantially no additional cost since the only tooling change required is respacing of the cut-off die.

The only other shape used in the rack is that for the cross bars 30. This is a simple angle shape and, thus, is economical to fabricate. These, too, may be made in various lengths, depending upon customers requirements.

Where it is desired to provide special stops along the tracks 16, this may be done by laying one of the cross bars 30 over the track in such a manner that the horizontal flange or a projecting stop thereon is located above the top of the track above the level of the rollers. In such case the vertical flange extends down over the rails 16. These need not be attached unless it is so desired.

It is seen that this invention provides a simple, sturdy, adaptable and inexpensive storage rack arrangement. Various modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof. Each of these modifications is to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise.

We claim:

.1. In a storage rack, the combination comprising: a pair of side panels, each of said side panels having a pair of vertical standard members, one adjacent each end of each :of said panels; a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel tie bars extending between and secured to said standard members lengthwise of said side panels; a plurality of vertically spaced cross bars extending between said side panels adjacent the ends thereof; means securing said cross bars to said standard members; a plurality of vertically spaced tracks extending lengthwise of said rack, said tracks being between said side panels; each of said tracks having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, rail members; means aflixing said rail members to said cross bars adjacent each end of said rack; the cross bar at one end of said rack supporting each track being higher than the cross bar supporting the other end of said track whereby said tracks are inclined lengthwise of said rack; a plurality of equally spaced freely rotatable conveyor wheels secured to each of said rail members; the tops of said conveyor wheels projecting above said rail members; said cross bars each being of L-shaped cross section, one leg of said L being vertical and the other horizontal; a pair of notches in said vertical leg, each adapted to receive one of said rails; said rails being adapted to seat upon said horizontal leg of said cross bar.

2. In a storage rack, the combination comprising: a pair of side panels, each of said side panels having a pair of vertical standard members, one adjacent each end of each of said panels; a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel tie bars extending between and secured to said standard members lengthwise of said side panels; a plurality of vertically spaced cross bars extending between said side panels adjacent the ends'thereof; means securing said cross bars to said standard members; a plurality of vertically spaced tracks extending lengthwise of said rack, said tracks being between said side panels; each of said tracks having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, rail members; means afiixing said rail members to said cross bars at each end of said rack; the cross bars at one end of said rack supporting each track being higher than the cross bar supporting. the other end of said track whereby said tracks are inclined lengthwise of said rack; a plurality of equally spaced freely rotatable conveyor wheels secured to each. of said rail members; the tops of said conveyor wheels projecting abovesaid rail members; said cross bars being inclined laterally of said racks; said tracks being normal to: said cross. bars whereby the article supporting surface of said racks is laterally inclined; a guide rail mounted to said standards above and adjacent each of said tracks and along the lower side of said tracks; a plurality of equally spaced, freely rotatable conveyor wheels mounted to said guide rail; the axis of rotation of said wheels being normal to the axis of rotation of said wheels on said tracks.

3. In a storage rack, the combination comprising: a pair of side panels each of said side panels having a pair of vertical standard members, one adjacent each end of each' of-said panels; a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel tiebars extending between and secured to said standard members lengthwise of said side panels; a plurality of vertically spaced cross bars extending between said side panels adjacent the ends thereof; means securing said cross bars to said standard members; a pair of upstanding brackets mounted onv each of said cross bars; said brackets each having a downwardly inclined flange, said flanges of each pair of said brackets being directed toward each other; a pair of rails; means affixing each of said rails to one. of said flanges; a plurality of equally spaced freely rotatable conveyor wheels mounted to each of said rails; the plane of the conveyor wheels on one of said rails converging upwardly with the plane of the conveyor wheels on the other of said rails.

- References Cited in the: file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,278,548 Zeltner Sept. 10, 1918 1,563,116 Tinsley Nov. 24, 1925 2,172,380 Harris Sept. 12, 1939 2,329,815 Attwood Sept. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 832,381 France June 27, 1938 

